Quantitative methods of marine spatial planning (environmental aspect) in the Far North and the Arctic zone

Abstract

The study identifies and analyzes the dependence of environmental and economic costs associated with marine dredging on the total volume of dredged soil for the Russian marine areas in the Far North and the Arctic zone, as well as for the other, more southern seas in Russia. The analysis was conducted using a representative sample of over 300 dredging projects from the database of Eco-Express Service LLC, an environmental design company in St. Petersburg. The total environmental and economic costs were found to be directly dependent on the total volume of dredged soil, both for the marine areas in the Far North and the Arctic zone and the other seas of the Russian Federation. However, relative environmental and economic costs arising from dredging (per volume unit of dredged soil) are virtually independent of the total dredged soil volume within its entire examined range. Of note is that the relative environmental and economic costs associated with dredging in the Far North and the Arctic are 1.6 times higher than those for the other seas in Russia. The study results can be used for the information and analytical support of scientific research and management decisions regarding the development of Russian marine areas.